Oil reclaiming and purifying system



June 21, 1932.

c J: RODMAN ET AL OIL RECLAIMING AND PURIFYING SYSTE'I Filed Dec. 30, 1929 INVENTOR J Patented June 21, 1832 1 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE J. RODMAN AND RUSSELL P. DU

NMIRE, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOBS TO THE BUCKEYE TWIST DRILL. COMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO OIL RECLAIMIN G AND PURIFYING SYSTEM Application filed December 30, 1929. Serial No. 417,355.

, This invention relates generally to'oil purifying and reclaiming systems, and more particularly to such systems for purifying and reclaiming oil which has been used to lubricate the bearings of an engine.

The purifying apparatus according to our invention can be easily applied to existing installations in order to insure not only removal of solid matter with which the oil may become contaminated, but also the removal of dissolved gases and water.

The drawing illustrates in a diagrammatic manner the application of the oil purifying apparatus to a turbo-generator set. The invention, however, is applicable to all types of lubricating systems having a source of vacuum to which the vacuum chamber hereinafter more fully described can be connected.

Referrin more particularly to the drawing," a turbme- 2 drives a generator 3. The

turbine is connected through conduits 4 to a sprayed from the nozzle 21 is under a relacondenser 5.

Oil is supplied to the oil distributing system from a storage tank 6 through a conduit 7 to conduits 8, 9 and 10. A main oil pump 11 pumps oil from the conduit 10 to a main conduit 12 provided with a pressure indicator 13 and a thermometer 14. The pressure of the oil ordinarily is from 40 to 60 pounds per square inch and its temperature is about 80 F. The oil flows from the conduit 12 through branch conduits 13a to'lubricate the bearings 14a of the turbo-generator set. After having lubricated the bearings, the oil flows through branch conduits 15 into a' conduit 16 and then is conveyed through conduit 17 to a vacuum chamber 20.

The vacuum chamber 20 has a nozzle 21 adjacent the bottom of the tank which sprays and atomizes the oil flowing through the con-,

duit 17. The oil in the conduit 17 is still under pressure of about to-6O square inch, but its temperature has been raised while lubricating the bearings to about 140 F. The vacuum chamber is connected adjacent its top by a conduit 22 connected to the condenser 5. The condensation of the exhaust steam from the-turbine 2 in the condenser 5 provides a vacuum in the condenser, and since the condenser liberated when the oil is pounds per is connected through general trough shape and each tier or set of battles is arranged in staggered relationship withthe set immediately above and below it.

This arrangement of the baflles 24 provides a tortuous passage through which the gases sprayed under pressure from the nozzle 21 into the vacuum chamber may escape into the conduit 22 and from thence into the condenser 5. The bafiles '24, however, prevent the escape of oil from thefchamber. The oil is collected by the baffles 24 and flows downward by gravity followinga tortuous passage formed'by the bafiles 2'5 and 26 and collects at the bottom of the chamber. It will be seenjthat the oil the oil has passed through the cooler, its temperature has'been reduced to about-80 F.

From the cooler, the cooled purified oil flows through conduit 8 from whence it returns to the oil distributing system for lubricating the bearings 14a.

An auxiliary oil pump 40. is connected by A conduits 41 and 42 provided with valves 43' and 44 to conduits 9 and 12 in order' that the oil may by-pass the pump 11 if it is necessary to shut it down for repairs. 'A valve 50 is additional oilmay be admitted tothe system to replace that which is lost.

' provided in the conduit 7 connecting the oil storage tank 6 with the conduit 8 so that to'a Diesel engine in As above described, when the oil flpurif 'ng apparatus is in operatlon, the oil ows om the conduit 16 through the conduit 17 into the vacuum chamber 20. However, in some cases it is not necessary that the purification of the oil be carried out continuously, and when such is the case the oil flows from the conduit 16 through conduit 60 provided with a valve 61 to the cooler 34. I

The construction of the vacuum chamber is such that the oil which is collected by the baflles 24 must flow in a tortuous path in its descent to the bottom of the tank. During this passage, the oil is acted upon by the vacuum to remove Our invention is applicable not only to turbo-generator sets' provided with a condenser which forms a source of vacuum, but also to any lubricating system in which a source of vacuum is available. For example, the purifying apparatus may be connected a manner generally similar to that hereinabove described. In this case, the conduit22 which conducts the gases from the vacuum chamber may be connect'ed to the intake manifold of the engine. 1 An important feature of our invention is that by the use of a vacuum chamber the oil is free not only which may be accomplished in certain-types of mechanical purifiers, but it is also freed from dissolved gases and moisture because of the shock to which it is subjected when oil under pressure is sprayed into the vacuum chamber.

We have illustrated and described one embodiment of our invention. It is to be understood, however, -that the invention ma otherwise embodied within the scope 0 following claims.

We claim:

the

1. In an 'oil purifying and reclaiming system for an en e havlng a condenser and an oil distributlng system for lubricating the bearings, a vacuum chamber connected to the condenser, connections from the oil distributingsystem to the vac uum chamber, and means for returning purified oil from the vacuum chamber to the oil distributing system. i v

2. In an oil purifying and reclaiming system for a turbo-generator set, having a condenser and an oil distributing system for lubricating the" bearings, a vacuum chamber connected to the condenser, connections for conveyin oil from the oil distributing system to t e vacuum chamber, a cooler, oil connections between the vacuum chamber and the cooler, and means for returning purified cooled oil from the cooler to the oil distributing system.

3. In an oil purifying and reclaiming system for an englne havinga condenser and an oil distributing systemfor lubricating the bearings, a vacuum chamber 7 ing the bearings,

dissolved moisture and gases.

from its solid impurities,

for conveying oil vcooled oil from the cooler to the oi ing the bearings, a vacuum connected to the oil from the vacuum chamber to t condenser, connections for conveying oil from the oil distributin system to the vacuum chamber, said cham er having bafiles therein to' prevent escape of oil but allowing escape of gaseatherefrom, and means for returning purifiedoil from the vacuum chamber to the oil distributing system. 1

4. In an oil purifying and reclaiming system f or an engine having a source of vacuum and an oil distributing system for lubricata vacuum chamber connected to the source of vacuum, connections for conveying oil from the =oil distributing system to the vacuum chamber, said chamber comprising a spray nozzle adjacent the bottom thereof for atomizing the oil, and bafiles arranged to prevent escape of oil but allow escape of gases, and means for returning purified oil from the vacuum hamber to the oil distributing system.

5. In an oil purifying and reclaiming system for an engine having asource of vacuum and'an oil distributing system for lubricat ingthe bearings, a vacuum chamber connected to the source of vacuum, connections for conveying oil from the oil distributing system to the vacuumchamber, the vacuum chamber comprising a spray nozzle adjacent the bottom thereof for atomizing the oil, and baflles arranged to prevent escape of oil but allow escape of gases, a cooler, oil connections between the vacuum chamber and cooler, and means for returning purified cooled oil from the cooler to the oil distributin system.

.6. In an oil purifying and rec aiming system for an engine having a source of vacuum and an oil distributing system for lubricating the bearings, a vacuum chamber connected adjacent its'top to the source of vacuum, connections for conveying oil from the oil distributing s stem to the vacuum chamber, a spray nozz e adjacent the bottom of the chamber connected to the oil distributing s stem, said nozzle bein adapted to atomize t e oil, baflles within the chamber for preventing escape of oil but allowing escape of gases, a cooler, connections for conveying purified oil from the vacuum, chamber to the cooler, and means for returnin purified istributing s stem.

u an oil purifying and reclaiming system-for an engme'having a source of vacuum and an oil distributing system for lubricatchamber connected adjacent its top to the source of vacuum, connections for conveying oil from the oil distributingsystem to the vacuum chamber, a spray nozzle adjacent the bottom of the chamber connected to the 01]. distributing s stem, 7

said nozzle being adapted to atomize t e oil, baflies within the chamber for preventing escape of'oil but allowing escape of gases, a cooler, connections for conveym purified e cooler,

the oil distributin system.

In testimony w ereof we have hereunto I set our hands.

' CLARENCE J. RODMAN. RUSSELL P. 'DUNMIRE.

purified oil is returned to- 

